Disengaging means for automatic control systems for aircraft



H. W. TIEBEL April 8, 1941.

DISENGAGING MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR AIRCRAFT Filed OG'IL. 27, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 8, 1941.- H, w, TlEBEL 2.237.719

DISENGAGING MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC CNTROL SYSTEMS FOR A-I'RCRAFT Filed Oct. 27, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 tiene Apr.s,1941

iTEo s'rA're y'DISENGAizrINCv MEANS FOR AUTOMATI CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR AIR if* iii Hans Werner Tiebel, Berlin-Spandau, Germany, assigner to Siemens Apparate und Maschinen Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Berlin, Germany,` a corporations! Germany Application october e1, 1937, serial No.. insta In Germany October' 3, 1935 i Claims.

been relatively complicated in design and heavy in construction.

@ne oi the objects of the present invention is to provide-a novel disconnecting apparatus which remains positive in engaging or disengaging action 4in spite of wear upon the working parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel apparatus for disengaging mechanical impuise transmitting means which is adapted for instant and positive operation. d further object is to provide novel disconnecting means which are simple indesign, light in weight and adapted for use, for example,v

aboard vehicles such as aircraft.

an additional object is toprovide novel disengaging means which are small in size and adapted for installation aboard vehicles where available space is limited.

The above and further objects and novel ieatures of the invention will more iully appear irom the following detailed description when the saine is read in connection with the Vaccompanying drawings. Itis to be expressly understood,

however. that the drawings are for the purpose oi'illustrati'on only and are not intended to define the limits of the invention, reference being primarily had for this latter purpose to the appended claims.

in the drawings, wherein actors refer to like parts throughout the several views.,

ills., i. is a side elevation of one embodiment oi the present invention;

illustrated in Fig. 1, the section being taken on line ll-II oi Fig. 1; *Y Wig. 3 is a side elevation of a second en'xbodi-v meat of the present invention; and;

ll'ig. 4 is an isometric sketch of one embodiment ci the invention in operative connection with a servo-motor and a vehicle control surface.

The form oi the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example, is a device for instantly disconnecting driving and like reference -charelled in order to counteract the effects of Wear' driven members andcomprises a power shaft with a driving arm rigidly attached thereto and a driven lever operatively connected to the driven member, said lever being rotatably mounted upon said driving shaft and adapted for supporting a latch which engages a toothed orgrooved portion at the extremity of said driving arm. The latch may be instantly disengaged by the movement of a disconnecting lever which is operatively connectcd to a stub shaft upon which'the latch is secured. The lever in the operating position extends radially from the axis' oi.' the driving shaft and is actuated by an impulse which initially is applied at a ypoint concentric with the axis of the driving shaft.

In the form illustrated in Fig.l, the" novel disconnecting means are constituted by an arm 4 whichl is drivably connected by means oi a sleeve B to a driving shaft At the extremity of this arm is a toothed or grooved portion 'l for engaging a driven member. Novel means are provided ior connecting said driven member to the driving arm comprising a lever 8 which is composed ol two flange members 8a and 3b held in spaced relation by bolts 9, l0 and screws Ii. Lever l is operatively connected to a driven member 8c by a bolt 9a. Aiatch member l2 having a bevelied,.toothed portion i3 is supported between anges 8a, 8b by `journals I4, I5 and is adapted for engaging the grooved vportion 1 of the driving arm I in such a manner that lever 8 is drivably connected to arm 4. Tooth i3 is bevand to insure a positive mesh at all times.

Novel means are provided for disengaging latch l2 from arm i comprising a disconnecting lever IB which is operatively connected to journal i5 and latch it by a pin i1. Lever I6 in the engaged position extends radially from the axis of shaft" iand is adapted for disengaging motion,

by an .impulse applied at Iii; for example, bya cord i9. i In order to positively retain lever 8 and arm 4 in a :hrml driving connection regardless of the lllia. 3 is a partial section of the embodiment wear of the engaged parts, means are provided for urging lever i6 in a counter-clockwise direction, when in the engaged position. comprisy lbodiment shown in liig.y in a counterclockwise arm 4 such that the engagement of latch I2 and arm. 4 may be facilitated and in the embodiment shown comprises feeler arms 25 and 28.

In operation, assume that the device is ilrst in the engaged position, as shown in Fig. l. Now assume that it is necessary instantly to disconnect the driving shaft 6 and the driven member 8c. The cord I8 is pulled in the direction of the arrow which applies a turning moment at i8.

fI6 insuch a manner that a cam portion 36a is thrust into contact with a roller S8 upon a small shaft. The contact of cam and roller will force the disconnecting lever il, in the em- In operation of the second embodiment, assume that it is necessary \to instantly disconnect the driving and driven members. Cord I9 is pulled in the direction o1' the arrow lwhich rotates pawl 33 and releases` cam-lever 35. Spring 33 ro-- for holding said disengilw tates said cam-lever and causes cam 35a to coact with roller 28 to thrust the disconnecting lever Il to the right and to disengage latch 21 and arm 32. The cam a is so formed that upon 60 rotation of said cam the largest turning moment upon lever I6 is produced at the beginning .of the disconnecting movement.

` In Fig. 4 is illustrated one manner of employ ing the present invention with a vehicle con- 6 trol surface which in the coupled position is'auto- The Vdriven member of the apparaerns a control surface 43. f There is thus provided a`novel coupling device which is adapted for instant disconnection and which is suitable for installation upon auto-Y" for example, in the event of an emergency, the control surfaces may be quickly released from automatic control. The device will maintain a surfaces. It is light in weight, simple in construction and easily installed aboard vehicles such as marine vessels and aircraft where a lim-H' ited amount of space is available.

The spring loaded wedge-plunger resiliently 1o Although only two embodiments have been opposes this disengaging impulse but is thrust illustrated and described in detail, it is to be upwardly against spring pressure upon roller 2l. expressly understood that the invention is not Simultaneously, latch` i2 is lifted from engage-f limited thereto. For example, in the form shown, ment with the grooved extremity of arm 4 and the disconnecting lever l0 is actuated by pullplunger 20 has reached the opposite side of roll- 15 ing upon a cord I9: however, for this cord may er 2|. In this position, arm 4- and lever 8 are be substituted electric or hydraulic lever actuatdisengaged. When it is desired again to engage ing means. Also for the latch mechanism may said arm and lever, the feeler arms 25, 26 may be he substituted any suitable, quickly disconnectusedto aid in the coupling. able locking means. Various changes may also A second embodiment of the present inventio 20 be made in the design and arrangement of parts is illustrated invFig. 3 which is similar to the illustrated, without departing from the spirit Afirst embodiment with the main exception that and scope of the inventiona as the same will now instead of a direct impulse from the operator be understood by those skilled in the art. For being effective to `actuate the device, the operaa definition of the limits of the invention, refertor trips a pawl mechanism which releases a ence will be had primarily to the appended spring which, in turn, by operating a cam, forces claims. the mechanism to the disconnected position. A What is claimed is: f latch member 21 of the second embodiment is l. In a disconnecting device, a driving shaft, similar to member i2 of the ilrst embodiment a driving arm attached to said shaft, a driven with the exception that double teeth 28, 2S are 30 lever rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a latch provided in the former to mesh with double supported by said lever for engaging said driving grooves 30, 3l of driving arm 32. Arm 32, in arm, a roller member mounted on said driven turn, corresponds to driving arm d of the first lever, and means connected with said latch and embodiment. having a portion thereof engaging said roller for The novel pawl means of the second embodij rapidly disconnecting Said latch from Said drivment for actuating the disconnecting device are ing Sirmcomprised by pawl ss pivotaily mounted at se 2. Inapparatus of the class decribed, a drivins' and adapted, upon a-puii of cord ls. to release arm. a driven lever. latch means for coupling said a. cam-lever and to permit a spring 36 to arm and lever, lever means for discngaging said rotate said cam-lever upon a pivot 31 on lever 40 .latch means. and `means for bringing Sid arm and lever into the coupled position comprising feeler arms upon said driving arm.

3. In apparatus of the class described.' a driving arm, a driven lever, latch means for coupling said arm and lever, lever means for dis- 1 engaging said latch, spring means for actuating said disengaglng lever, pawl means for holding controlling said latch means. a cam-lever atlever in the coupled position. l

5.- m apparatus of the class described, a en ing arm, adriven lever, latch means for coupling said anni4 and lever, disengaging levermeans for controlling said latch means, cam means for actuating said disensasing lever. spring means for actuating said cam means, and pawl means for. holding said cam in an inoperative position.y

' 6. In a device o! the character described, a driving shaft, Aa driving arm/ attached to said shaft, a driven element comprising a pair of paraliel plates on opposite sides of said arm and rotatably'mounted on said shaft, a' pawl jour? 0 nailed in said plates and mountcdadjacent said arm, means on' said arm cooperating with said A pawly whereby said driven element'may lbe ro tated Vupon rotation of. said shaft. a roller member supported on one of said plates. and means vmatic vehicle control apparatus^ in order that. connected with said pawl for disconnecting 'said rotation on said shaft. on opposite sides of said 10 arm.. a pawl journalied in saidplates. means on said arm cooperating with said paw] whereby said arm and plates areadjustably locked together.

a lever attached to said pawl for rotating the same, a spring ursedfdetent on said lever and means cooperating with said detent to urge said lever in such a direction that said paw] and arm are maintained-in lockedposition. A

"HANS WERNER nEBEL. 

